PARTNERS' PROGRESS
A NEW town centre supermarket could be looming in Dromore's future. The new store is one of the options understood to be under consideration as construction company Graham firms up proposals for its town centre sites.
Graham's plans were among the topics for discussion when the Dromore Partnership recently held its first meeting of 2010, at which the question of so far undisclosed district council proposals for new facilities was also aired.
While stressing that a new supermarket was only a possibility, Partnership chairman, Jeffrey Donaldson MP, hailed the meeting as "very constructive" despite a background of recession .
"We reviewed the progress that had been made with the regeneration of the town centre," he said. "The Partnership recognises that during a period of economic recession the pace of progress is not as quick as we might have liked, with investment in property renovation schemes and newbuild in the town centre coming to a halt in many instances.
"However we remain hopeful of progress in 2010 and there are indications from Grahams that they intend to bring forward firm proposals for the redevelopment of a number of key sites in the town centre.
"This includes a prominent site in the Square which they intend to develop for mixed retail and residential development. This would be a major boost to the town centre and would help to lift the local retail economy out of recession.
"The potential town centre development by Grahams may also include a supermarket, which would be a major boost for the retail sector, helping to increase the level of footfall in the town centre, thereby benefitting existing businesses as well."
Mr. Donaldson added, "We also had discussions about the new facilities planned by Banbridge district council and improvements to their existing recreation and sporting facilities; the council is bringing forward plans it hopes to publicise in the near future."
Mr. Donaldson said one of the key elements of proposed developments was that they would involve residential development in and around the Square, which would again increase the number of people in a position to boost town centre trade.
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Weather for Dromore
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 4 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South
